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When the news went out this past
November that Fire Island's Pavilion was
burning to the ground, the summer of
2012 began to look a little dubious.
Never fear, not on Fire Island, where
even hurricanes can't keep a good party
down - and certainly not the "Biggest
Party of the Summer."
The seventh incarnation of the Fund in
the Sun Foundation's Ascension Beach
Party made it abundantly clear that when
Fire Island Pines wants to party, they
have a full-on kiki on the beach.
The Scissor Sisters infectious song of
the summer "Let's Have a Kiki" perfectly
embodied the can-do, gung-ho spirit of
Fire Island Pines. When the club burns
to the ground, it's time to "serve and
work and turn" and "let's have a kiki"
on the beach.
Established in 2006 as an afternoon
fundraiser, Ascension Weekend has become
the definitive circuit weekend of Fire
Island, with four huge parties,
including a launch party, a pool party,
a tea dance, and the main event on the
beach.
All afternoon long, boys from around the
world flocked to Fire Island Pines
Beach, that fabled gay beach with its
own chapter in LGBT History 101, where
sun-bleached white cabanas and cerulean
blue banners, along with a
freshly-sodded green lawn, created an
oasis in the sand as the ocean's waves
crashed along the shore. Definition of
idyll - look no further.
After their triumphant set at Pier Dance
for New York Pride earlier this summer,
The Perry Twins returned to the East
Coast from their native Los Angeles and
sent out an ebullient summer beach party
vibe that included homages to Whitney
and a slew of summer classics.
Previous Ascension entertainers have
included Kelly Rowland and Dragonette,
as well as Erika Jayne, Kristine W. and
Crystal Waters. This year's Beach Party
brought Neon Hitch to sing her massive
hit "Love You Betta," which also goes by
the title "F*ck You Betta" - and which
the jubilant crowd proceeded to sing
along with Ms. Hitch.
Helmed by founders Hal Rubenstein, David
Nickle, Eric von Kuersteiner, Anthony
Roncalli, and producer Sean Patrick
Ryan, as well as the ebullient Alegria
mascot Adam Weaver, the Beach Party was
packed with a surfeit of male
pulchritude on the purpose-built dance
floor that blanketed the sand, serving
as a reminder, yet again, of the
immutable bond between beauty, money,
and sex - and particularly when set
amidst the paradisiacal splendor of the
Pines.
Throughout its seven-year history, the
Fund in the Sun Foundation has raised
more than $250,000 for the protection of
the environment and infrastructure of
Fire Island Pines, while also donating
grants to worthy LGBT charitable
organizations. This year's beneficiaries
included the Hetrick-Martin Institute
and the Harvey Milk High School; Live
Out Loud; Friends In Deed, which
provides support services for those with
HIV/AIDS; One Heartland, which affords
summer camping programs for GLBTQA kids;
and Standing Tall, which helps
wheelchair-bound kids.
Late in the afternoon, Joe Gauthreaux
took control of the booth and sent out a
deeply propulsive set that had Guy Smith
and Erin Stacy V. having a kiki up in
the booth, while the crowd on the floor
sent their arms soaring in the air.
"Get Ready to Rise" was this year's
Ascension tagline and Joe G. took the
admonition to heart and turned that
party inside out. He sent the energy
heavenward, befitting the numerous
angelic winged hats and metallic winged
sneakers that dotted the crowd.
As one giddy boy pronounced, "This is
gay heaven," which means that heaven is
a kiki on the beach. Elysium never
looked better.
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